Request for Suspect Interrogation and Delivery of Summons This Week
Prosecution Collects Concrete Testimony and Physical Evidence... Considering Compulsory Measures if Uncooperative
The prosecution has notified Kim Keonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, to appear for questioning as a suspect this week on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act. Kim Keonhee has not responded to several verbal requests from the prosecution so far. As a result, the prosecution appears to have determined that it could no longer delay the investigation and has formally requested her appearance. In particular, it is reported that the prosecution is also considering compulsory measures if she does not comply with the official summons.
According to legal sources on May 11, the special investigation team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Jihyung, which is investigating allegations of candidate nomination interference involving "political broker" Myung Taegyun, recently sent a formal summons to Kim Keonhee’s side, specifying a day this week for her to appear as a suspect. The charges are violations of the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act. The prosecution has repeatedly conveyed the need for a face-to-face investigation to Kim Keonhee’s side, but has not received a response.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office team has been investigating the case since February, after taking over part of it from the Changwon District Prosecutors’ Office. They have already questioned people close to the nomination interference allegations and have collected concrete testimony and physical evidence. Recently, the team visited the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office, which is investigating suspicions involving the former presidential couple and Jeonseongbae, known as Geonjinbeopsa, and presented a search and seizure warrant, obtaining some items such as Kim Keonhee’s mobile phone and personal PC. The Southern District Prosecutors’ Office searched the former president’s private residence on April 30.
Given these developments, it appears that the prosecution has determined it can no longer postpone summoning Kim Keonhee, who is at the center of the case, and has formally demanded her appearance. Some observers had speculated that it would become difficult to summon Kim Keonhee with the early presidential election approaching. However, following the removal of former President Yoon from office, the prosecution appears to have judged that there are fewer security concerns and less direct impact on the presidential election.
If Kim Keonhee complies with the summons this week, it will be her first time appearing at the prosecutors’ office for questioning. Last July, the prosecution conducted face-to-face questioning regarding allegations such as receiving a luxury bag and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case at an annex managed by the Presidential Security Service. This led to strong controversy over preferential treatment.
If Kim Keonhee again refuses to comply with the summons, the prosecution is reportedly considering compulsory measures. It is said that the prosecution is also reviewing the option of seeking an arrest warrant if she fails to comply without justifiable reason.
If questioning does take place, it is unlikely to be completed in a single day, given the multiple allegations surrounding Kim Keonhee. Together with former President Yoon, she is suspected of having arranged for former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Youngsun to be nominated as a candidate for the Changwon Uichang constituency in the June 1, 2022 parliamentary by-election, as a reward for receiving free public opinion polling from Myung Taegyun during the 20th presidential election. She is also suspected of intervening in the People Power Party’s nomination for the Pohang mayoral race in the local elections, and of exerting influence to have former prosecutor Kim Sangmin run in Kim Youngsun’s constituency ahead of last year’s general elections.
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